During a recent period of sickness, as in the — every family member takes a turn because we share everything — kind of sickness, my whole clan and I snuggled ourselves into the couches and searched Netflix for a respite from coughs and fevers. We came upon a new-to-us series called Brain Games and we were immediately intrigued.
Focusing on stunts of visual distortion, focus and distraction, shadows and light, we were tricked over and over again. We sat completely entertained by the palpable tension of what we knew to be true and what we were seeing with our very own eyes. The clash of those two truths felt irreconcilable; the very element of a trick well played.
And yet, it was all just for fun.
But what happens when it’s not?
What happens when the clash between what we see and what we know to be true isn’t just an entertaining show on television but rather our reality, our life?
In Psalm 57 David is there, parked right there in that tension. You see, Saul and his men are pursuing David something fierce. They are on his heels, and he is getting weary. He knows God is his refuge, but what he is seeing with his own eyes looks quite different.
My soul is among lions; I lie among the sons of men who are set on fire, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword . . . They have prepared a net for my steps . . . they have dug a pit before me {Psalm 57:4-6}
Kind of intense, right? And yet intermingled with these verses, amidst David’s description of what he is seeing, he also pens the knowing — the very truth he knows about his God.
Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You. {Psalm 57:1}
Be exalted O God, above the heavens; Let your glory be above all the earth. {Psalm 57:5}
My heart is steadfast, O God . . . I will sing and give praise. {Psalm 57:7}
Do you see it? The seeing and the knowing.
David is able to trust God, even praise God, because of the relationship built long before the battle. David knew who God was, so even though what he what was seeing was real (and really scary!) he defaulted to what he knew to be true.
He wasn’t distracted by shadows or distortion. Although the fear was real, he was not tricked by optical illusions. David had built a relationship with God that went deeper than what his eyes saw in front of him, deeper than the physical fear he felt inside of him. His soul trusted in God, his heart was steadfast and from that truth so he moved boldly and bravely, that God might be glorified in all of it.
The difference between the seeing and the knowing is just that — a trusting soul, a steadfast heart and praise — all built before, during, and after the trial, that He may be glorified.
May we be wholly devoted to the knowing.
Leave a Comment
Bev @ Walking Well With God says
Katie,
Oh how I pray that my “default” setting would be one of trust. In stead of easily reverting to fear, I pray that the trials that God has brought me through would give me confidence that He can be trusted so that when I’m in the crucible I will default to what i KNOW to be true….God loves me and He will always have my back. I don’t have to worry about what i see. Thank you for this poignant reminder!
Blessings,
Bev
Marianne says
Amen Amen . Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding ……
I am a work in progress on this.. Thank you for your words
Katie Westenberg says
What a courageous prayer, Bev. Praying that right along with you!
Pearl @ Look Up Sometimes says
Sometimes what IS right doesn’t always look right…and so we trust… Thank you for this reminder, Katie. (And thanks for an interesting, new show to look for!)
Katie Westenberg says
Exactly, Pearl! I’m sure the moment David was praying this prayer, life did not “look right”. But He boldly proclaimed what he knew to be true. That is courage. And you’re welcome! Family friendly shows can be hard to come by – my 11 year old has particularly been captivated by this one.
Mary Hood says
For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Cor 5:7. So hard to remember sometimes in these hard times! Thank you for this beautiful reminder. I need this today.
Katie Westenberg says
Isn’t that the truth, Mary? It IS hard to remember when our world is shaken. But it reminds me of the importance of seeking Christ and knowing Him when the sun is shining. That knowledge, that relationship, is what tethers us when the rain comes.
Marva | sunSPARKLEshine says
Katie, my heart’s desire is to be fully devoted to the knowing so that the seeing aligns with who God truly is (not what my eyes see in the moment). Today your words have encouraged me to focus on what comes before the struggle. It’s in forging that deep and trusting relationship with Christ that the battle is won. Thank you for this much-needed word, dear friend.
Katie Westenberg says
“It’s in forging that deep and trusting relationship with Christ that the battle is won.” Beautiful words, Marva. That is the place is where real courage is built, brick by brick. Thank you for your support, friend.
Makebah says
Thanks for this reminder no matter the situation My Lord is my defender all I need is Trust .Lord help me to always trust in You because you never forsake your own.Amen
Katie Westenberg says
Amen, Makebah!
An says
Katie, thank you for these strengthening words that the Lord has worked through you. How I needed this beautiful reminder today-it was what my heart needed 🙂 To trust in the Lord is everything and I am so grateful that He never leaves us to walk alone, always reminding us of the truth that is only seen and understood through the eyes and mind of faith. May we each hold on to the truth today, walking along the paths of His truth that He places before us, one baby step at a time, in His love 🙂
Katie Westenberg says
Thank you, An. I’m thankful that God honors those baby steps! 🙂
Kathy Cheek says
David always reminds me the battle is the Lord’s and we fight in His strength with our trust placed fully in Him. Thank goodness more is going on that what eyes can see, because of what God is doing!
Thank you for this clear and strong reminder to all of us.
Katie Westenberg says
Yes, Kathy, David’s life is such a great reminder of that. And I love that God is so patient with us as we fight to trust faithfully. I’m honored to be learning this right along with you!
Jessica Van Roekel says
The Psalms are my favorite for teaching me how to look at my right-now reality while at the same time proclaiming the truth that God still loves, is still in control, is still un-changing and mostly, is still praise-worthy. Thank-you for showing this so very well in this post. Blessings!
Katie Westenberg says
You condensed it perfectly, Jessica! 🙂 Blessings to you as well.
Michele Morin says
Your words resonate with me because so often I perceive that God is distant, that He is not entering into my situation with me, but Scripture gives me a much-needed course correction. M perception is skewed by wrong thinking about His nature and His ways.
Thanks, too, for the Netflix recommendation! Always looking for family-friendly content for the winter months!
Katie Westenberg says
You know , Michele, I think David was feeling that distance too. I think maybe he was forcing his lips to speak the words he knew to be true, when his feelings, because of the threats that were staring him down, may have been otherwise. Such a great lesson for all of us to speak Truth in those fearful moments. And I hope you enjoy Brain Games as much as we have!
Name says
When you have feelings of defending yourself in the face of evil, maybe the devil is trying to steal your healing back after youv’e already been healed. He can use an optical illusion to incite your reaction thereby hurting yourself. Or you can trust that youv’e already struck a home-run and let those optical illusions those people have set up come back on themselves as we know they will.
Katie Westenberg says
We’ve definitely been given a home-run in the gift of Jesus Christ.
Denisse says
Just the encouragement I needed to begin my day. A great reminder that regardless of what I am dealing with right now, as I am in the process of healing and restoration, I don’t have to be afraid or worry. I’m going to be ok. I made the right choice by walking away from a toxic relationship and his mind games and manipulation are his illusions. I will not be deceived. I will default to what I KNOW to be true and rest in the relationship that I have built with my God before this battle and even during this battle. He is my hope and an anchor of my soul. I will trust in the knowing. I will trust in Him. ❤️❤️❤️
P.S. I will be checking the show out too on Netflix
Katie Westenberg says
So glad these words found you right when you needed them, Denise! I’m praying for just the strength you need to keep trusting Him bravely.
Nancy Ruegg says
What a perfect analogy, Katie: our reactions to optical illusions and “the seeing and the knowing” of our faith. I’ve always been encouraged by those psalms where David (and others) lay out their fears, frustrations, and anger, but then reaffirm what they know about God. I also loved your conclusion: “May we be wholly devoted to the knowing.” Oh, yes! Thank you, Katie, for building up our resolve with this wonderful post.
Katie Westenberg says
Me too, Nancy! And thank you!
Wells says
I love this reminder, Katie, thank you. It is so true that we have to have a trust deeper than what our eyes can see, and keep believing!! I have recently, when waking up mornings afraid or discouraged, started to play the “what if” game,the GOOD one! “What if there is so much blessing that I can’t hold it all?” “What if instead of being stuck, God is moving me forward so fast that I won’t have ample warning time to adjust?” LOL. I love this because it makes me smile and reminds me that God is not worried about my problems. So I don’t have to worry either. Thanks for writing this!
Beth Williams says
Katie,
We need to put on the sword of spirit and make it permeate our whole being. That way we can extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one. We will then be able to distinguish between just seeing and truly knowing.
Blessings 🙂